Adjustable valve lifter



Sept. 10, 1957 E. DEMPSTER ADJUSTABLE VALVE LIFTER Filed March 31, 1955 IN VEN TOR. ErVin Dampsia;

ATTDRN EYS Unite ADJUSTABLE VALVE LIFTER Ervin Dempster, Nye, Mont., assignor of one-half to M. Lloyd Parcells, Columbus, Mont.

This invention relates to tools used in repairing engines of motor vehicles, and in particular, a manually actuated tool for compressing springs of valve stems to facilitate removing pins or spring clips, such as horseshoes, extended through openings in lower ends of the valve stems or in annular grooves therein wherein the position of the spring gripping element is readily adjustable in relation to the valve and wherein upon downward movement of an actuating lever the parts are locked, retaining the spring compressed as the pin or retainer is removed.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a valve spring compressor that is adapted to be operated with one hand and that makes it possible for a single operator to compress the spring and remove the pin from the valve stem.

Various types of devices have been provided for compressing valve springs as pins or retainers are removed from stems of the valves in order to facilitate removing valves from internal combustion engines, however, it has been found difficult to provide a tool for this use that is readily adjustable for valves of different types of engines and that is adapted to be operated by a single mechanic and with one hand of the mechanic. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates an L-shaped frame having a vertically disposed section and a horizontally disposed section with a base of a forked foot pivotally attached to the lower end of the vertically disposed section and a stem of a valve holding disc adjustably secured in the extended end of the horizontally disposed section and a lever pivotally connected to the extended end of the base of the foot and connected to the L-shaped frame with a link, the axes of the pivotal connections thereof with the L-shaped frame and lever being positioned whereby the pivotal connection of the link with the lever is adapted to pass over the center or beyond a plane extended through the pivotal connections of the end of the link connected to the frame and the end of the lever connected to the base of the foot whereby the parts are adapted to be locked in position with the tool retaining the spring compressed.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a valve spring compressing tool that is readily adjustable to engines of difierent sizes and that is adapted to be locked in a position wherein a spring of a valve stem is retained compressed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve spring compressing tool that is adapted to be used on engines of conventional designs and without changing parts of the engines on which the device is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve spring compressor that is adapted to be actuated by a single mechanic and with one hand in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a valve spring compressing tool comprising a forked foot adapted to be positioned over a valve stem and below a spring seat on the valve stem with States Patent 2,805,474 Patented Sept. 10, 1957 ICC a disc adapted to rest upon the upper end of a valve on the upper end of the stem for retaining the valve in position and with a supporting frame and actuating lever pivotally connected to the base of the forked foot and a stem of the disc and provided with a toggle acting link pivotally connected to the supporting frame and lever.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the improved valve spring compressing tool with the parts shown in position whereby the tool is locked with the spring retained in compression and in which part of the foot of the tool is broken away and shown in section and parts of an engine in which a valve, the spring of which is gripped by the tool, is positioned shown in section.

Figure 2 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of the tool.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved valve spring compressing tool of this invention includes an L-shaped frame 10 having a vertically disposed section 11 and a horizontally disposed section 12, a forked foot 13 positioned on the end of a base 14 pivotally connected by a pin 15 through ears 16 to the lower end of the section 11 of the frame, an arcuate hand lever 17 pivotally mounted with a pin 18 in ears 19 also extended from the base 14, a link 26 pivotally connected to the lever 17 with a pin 21 and similarly connected by a pin 22 to a web 23 on the upper part of the vertically disposed section 11 of the frame, and a valve holding disc 24 positioned on the lower end of a stem 25 which is retained in an opening 26 in the extended end of the section 12 of the frame with a set screw 27.

The forked foot 13 is provided with prongs 28 and 29 providing an opening 30 through which a valve stem 31 is adapted to extend with the prongs 28 and 29 straddling the valve stem and providing bearing surface for a spring seat 32 of a spring, such as the spring indicated by the numeral 33 and positioned around the valve stem 31.

With the disc 24 positioned on the upper end of a valve 34 at the upper end of the stem 31, the position of the tool may readily be adjusted on the stem 25 so that the foot 13 compresses the spring 33 to such a position that a pin 35, or other spring retaining device may be removed from an opening, such as an opening 36 in the lower end of the valve stem. With the parts properly adjusted, the set screw 27, which is threaded in an end 37 of the section 12 of the frame is secured in position with a lock nut 38 and with the disc 24 positioned on the valve 34 and the foot 13 below the spring seat 32 the lever 17 is actuated from the position indicated by broken lines 39 to the position shown in full lines whereby the pivot pin 21 of the link 20 passes across a plane 40 extended through the axis of the pin 22 at the upper end and also through the axis of the pin 18 at the lower end and with the pin 21 pass ing through this plane and thereby over the center the parts are locked in this position with the spring 33 held' compressed.

By this means the tool is adapted to be set up and actuated with one hand and with the tool retained in this position the pin 35 or other retaining device may readily be removed so that upon removal of the valve spring compressing tool the valve and also the spring thereof are adapted to be removed from the engine. The engine block is generally indicated by the numeral 41.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention,

3 What is jclaimed is:

In a valve spring compressor tool, a substantially horizontally disposed base having an oflset foot extending from one end thereof, said foot being 7 provided with a slot; therein; an L-shaped; frame having a vertically fdis: posed'isection and, a rhorizontally disposed section positionedjabove said base, spaced parallel ears extending upwardly Vfrom said baseintermediate the ends thereof, there beinga flattened portion on the lower end ofysaid verticallydisposedsection and said flattened portion be; ing pivotally connected'to said ears, a vertically disposed stem having an enlargedvalve engaging disc on the lower end thereof, said stein being slidably mounted inahole in the horizontally disposed section of the frame, a set screw arranged in threaded engagement with the free end of the horizontally r disposed vsection of said frame, a lock nut arranged in engagement with said set screw, said set screw engaging said stem for securing said stemin adjustedpositions, said stem being aligned with the foot extended'from the end of the base, ears extending upwardly from the end of the base opposite to that from which the foot extends, a hand lever having a flattened lower end pivotally connected to said last named ears, said hand lever including an upper curved portion, a web extending from the upper part of the vertically disposed section of the frame, a link having one end pivotally connected to 'saidw'ebl and its other end pivotally connected to said lever,.the pivotal connection of the link to the hand lever adapted to pass through a plane extended through the axes of the pivotal connection of the link to theaweb and pivotal connection of the hand lever to the base upontoperation of the lever.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,185 Dillhofl Oct. 17, 1911 

